A Paris!

It is a sad blog today. I will have to go home and leave this beautiful country soon, so this will be my last post.

These last couple of weeks have been very interesting in my travels. Last time, I visited Bourges, France, and man was it the closest thing to amazing that I have seen so far here in France. Instead of deciding to go to on a different route to some unknown city or town, I set a destination-- Paris, France. After all, who goes to France without going to Paris?

Since the drive to Paris was about 3 hours, I made sure to plan a pit-stop in Evry.

When I got to Evry, I was surprised. I thought I would run into a very rustic-sort of old town kind of place. But I am assuming the closer you get to Paris, the more modern or up-to-date places become.

The town had about 53,000 inhabitants and was relatively new. The commune, as it is called in France, was renamed in the 1960s; Evry is the shortened name that was given as opposed to Evry Ville Nouvelle.

I saw these types of... apartment homes... very stylish... not my cup of tea though!
 


The culture there was very upbeat, and I assumed, being only 25 kilometers from Paris (that's  15.5 miles for you Americans ;]), that Paris is a big influence.

I had no time to spare, as my trip was slowly coming to an end, I wanted to spend as much time in Paris as humanly possible.

Believe it or not, I went straight to where you would think I would go.... the Eiffel tower!

Voila! 

This monument was such a beauty. I am a fan of architecture so I really enjoyed the various sights that I could just look at the tower from.

Here is right under the tower.



Guess what Josh did next? Yes, Josh had a grand feast at none other than Le Jules Verne... right under the Eiffel Tower!

This was my view from my table... wow:


Man the French cuisine there was just great, too. I had a dish titled: Pan-Seared Beef Tournedos And Fresh Duck Foie Gras souffleed potatoes, perigueux sauce... man it was good. It better have been good..that dish cost me 74 Euros! That's like.... $100 U.S. !!!

SO after my fancy meal at the Tower, I decided to "walk the streets of Paris". Very impressive too. The ambiance is definitely romantic and a significant other was much needed and missed.



I loved my trip to France. Unfortunately, now I am home. I can't wait to come back.... 

To Bourges, France!!

So this last week of traveling I wanted to extend the amount of distance that I travel. I figure if I go further every week... I might just see more of France --- and I did!

I first took the D914 all the way to Argenton-sur-Creuse. The town was relatively small, which I preferred, with a population of around 6,000 people. However small, the town was very *new* in its nature. I was able to take in the culture that was so prevalent.
                                                                                                      

The town is right along the river there! Just like Boise, i would say.

Le Petit Roy was the restaurant that I was able to eat at. It literally looked like a barn house that was turned into a restaurant. A very modern-type theme.


At the restaurant, I was able to enjoy the wine that they had. I don't think I have gone to any city or village or town in France WITHOUT having wine. I am a lover of the cheese and wine.  I am a big advocate of "the smellier the cheese, the better!" and man did Le Petit have smelly cheese ;-)



I took that same road, D914 to Bourges, France. The first sight that I HAD to see was the Cathedral of St. Etienne. I don't think you'll believe me when I say I was taken by my breath.


The history behind this beauty is very interesting. Back in the old days, this cathedral looked something completely different. Reconstruction and rebuilding of this "newer" building is not a set date in time, but documents prove that planning and expenditures were under way as early as 1195. This would make this cathedral over 1,000 years old! Very neat stained glass windows also.

I was able to stay at Villa-C hotel. It was amazing! The theme of the hotel was actually based on a rustic Italian theme...a very classy touch! Not to mention it was only a ten minute walk from the Cathedral... can't beat that.

Aside from seeing the beautiful cathedral, I was able to visit le Palais Jacques-Coeur. It was the palace of Louis the VII. It was beautiful and definitely meant for a King. The architecture was just brilliant. This was part of the inside of the palace:



After all of this sight seeing, I had to go back to my hotel and just relax. I hopped in the jacuzzi with a the tastiest glass of wine ever!


Until next time Bourges! 

a Limoges, France!

So this last week or two have been quite amazing! My final arrival for this week was supposed to be Saint Yrieix-La-Perche... however I wanted to go further to Limoges, France!!

I did have to make a stop though, and a stop I made. I took the D901 all the way to Saint Yrieix La-Perche... almost 50 kilometers.

In St. Yrieix, I found many different very culturally diverse things to do (after all I am in another country, another world really). The town was small, about 8,000 people small and really reminded me of Mt. Home, Idaho.

While in St. Yrieix, I was able to learn about the saint that the town was named after: St. Yrieix. After learning about the influence of saints and such last week in class, i thought it was interesting, after I looked at a map, that many towns throughout France are named after saints.

Restuarant Plan d'eau Arielle was the restaurant where we tried probably THE most authentic crepes and red wines. It was delicious!!



I was kind of in a rush, so I had to get on my way! I went about 57 more kilometers North of St. Yrieix on to Limoges. I took the D704 all the way there. When I got there.... this is what I saw:


I arrived closer to bedtime.. but it was like I was walking into a movie!! I was so amazed to see how much life there can be in this city even at the time of bed!

I was able to eat at the restaurant in town that has the most raved reviews, Les Petits Ventres. Man was it a classy restaurant too, I probably showed up way under dressed.

I had the Fraise de porc, vinaigrette tiède à l’échalote. 

The last part of this trip i was able to actually go to the town hall... and WOW.  

 

the craft of this magnificent building was just amazing. I cant wait to see what brings next time!  

Next Stop: Brive-la-Gaillarde, France!

So this last week or so was very adventurous for my travels in France! Last week, I decided to travel to Brive-la-Gaillarde! Of course, though, as all my travels usually go, I just HAD to make a pit-stop.

First I traveled about 75 kilometers to the VERY small town of Saint-Julien-de-Lampon, France!


When I first entered the town, I did not expect it to be such a small town. The latest population toll was around 500 inhabitants---a number that is so unusual and remote for me, since I am from Southern California,in Riverside,  where probably an area of the city, a small area, is at least 500!

I saw so many old homes here, that it made me want to live there.


 I was able to enjoy the various different wines that this small town has to offer at a restaurant called "La Gabarre". I wasn't too hungry, so I just feasted on cheese and all the wine that they had to offer. Literally, their entire two page menu was FULL of different kinds of wines that you could try! Take a look at their menu online at : http://www.restaurantlagabarre.com/carte.htm

After my short adventure in St. Julien, I made full speed to Brive-la-Gaillarde! I took the D61 all the way to the city for about 52 kilometers! When I got there... I was amazed.



I HAD to stop here...literally! Not just because it looked amazing--but because it was the visitor center!! Here i was able to get information about places to stay and places to eat!

I stayed at Mercure Brive hotel... and man was it beautiful!



The rooms were so up-to-date and had a VERY classy feel to it. Something that I would not expect, especially because I was in a city that had a very interesting history.

This city only started to really grow around the 5th Century. During the Hundred Years' War, the city built walls around the city that completed blocked out any entrances other than the main entrances.

Well, the part I loved most about Brive... was the food. Man it was amazing! I had the privilege to eat at La Toupine... it was gorgeous and the food was so appropriate!

I had the fish... I wasn't quite sure what type of fish it was... but doesn't it look amazing!

 

I had such a great time this last week... I can't wait to see what travels bring next time!